Sheet-feeding means



April 29, 1930. G. w. SWIFT, .JR

SHEET FEEDING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-'Sheeil l WITNESS April 29;'9'3o... G, w, SWW, JR 1,756,073

SHEET FEEDING MEANS Original Filed Nov. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 37 56 /33 O Q /32 /55 /f April 29, 1930. G. w. swlFT, JR

SHEET FEEDING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Nov. 28, 1927 Patented pr. 29, 1930` UNrrED Ajs'm'ras PATENT OFFICE i GEORGE W. SWIFT, JR., F BORDENTOWN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOlGEORGE W.

SWIFT, JR., INC., OF BORDENTOWN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY SHEET-FEEDING MEANS Application led November 28, 1927, Serial N'o. 236,161. Renewed April 16, 1929.

This invention relates 4.more especially to sheet feeding machines of the .type shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 1,643,646 issued in my name under date of September 27, 1927, and U. S. Patent No. 1,647,819 issued in my name under date of November l, 1927.

The primary objectof my invention is to 'provide mechanism of improved construction for separating successive sheets of relatively stiff material from the bottom of a pile and into the path of suitable sheet-feeding devices such, for example, as those shown and described in my above-identified U. S. patents.

One of the objects of my invention is`to provide simple and effective means of improved construction for accurately and rapidly separating successive sheets of cardboard or the like from the bottom of a pile.

Another object of my invention is to pro-v vide an improved arrangement and adJustment of the vertical guide assemblies which form the delivery throat for a pile of sheets from which successive sheets are to be separated. I- Ieretofore it has been necessary for the operator of a machine ofl this character to move inwardly or outwardly with respect to said machine to enable him to convenient'--V ly handle sheets of different sizes. According to my present invention, itiis possible for the operator to manipulate sheets of any desired size while he remains in one and the same position with respect to the machine.

In the drawings which-illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention in an vadaptation to a box blank feeding machine,

Figure is a section on the line 5 5, of Figure 2.

- In Figure l of the drawings, knurled feed rollers A and B of a slotting or blanking-out machine, are journalled in side frames 3, 3, 55 of which only one is shown on the drawings.

J ournalled within the side frames 4, 4, are

parallel shafts 5 and 6 to which are keyed sprocket wheels 7 and 8. Adj ustably mounted on a stay shaft 9 are laterally-spaced bent so levers 10 within which are ournalled sprocket wheels 11. Runnin over the sprocket wheels 7, 8 and 11, are en less conveyor chains 12 which are supported by longitudinal trackbars 13, extending substantially across the space between said sprocket wheels 7 and 8. Connected with the conveyor chain 12 are sheet-propelling devices adapted to loosely but positively confine the rear edges of sheets which are separately and successively removed from the bottom of the pile. Each of said devices comprises a sheet-engaging member or pusher which is adapted to push a sheet forward and a sheet-confining or retaining member Which is artcu-lately connected thereto and thereby adapted to be moved to and fro between a position in which it retains a sheet against displacement from engagement lwith the sheet-propelling member and a position in which said sheet is leftunhmpered to move out of engagement with said shect-propelling member. Thus, upon the oppositely-extended ends of one or more of the pintles 16 of chain 12, are pivotally mounted the laterally-spaced arms of each of a plurality of sheet-,engaging members 17 pivotally connected by pins 19 to the corresponding arms of sheet-confining or retaining members 20. Coaxially arranged pins 22 carried by each sheet-confining member 20, serve as journals for laterally-spaced cam-rollers 23, 23. Presented upwardly from the sheet-engaging member 17 is a lug or shoulder 24 which is provided with a rearwardly beveled upper surface 25 to accommodate the to and fro movements of. a flange or plate 26 which is carried by the sheet-confining member 20. Said ange 26 in its sheetconfining position, is adapted to overhang the U i 1,647,819. The subsequent forward lmoverear'edge of a sheet resting upon the-lugor shoulder 24.

Operating cams As shown and described in my above-identiiied U. S. Patent No. 1,647,819, laterallyspaced cam-tracks are provided for imparting relative movements to the members of .each sheet-propelling device to confine the rear edge of a sheet while said'sheet is being fed from the pile, a single additional c'amtrack being arranged to constrain the movements of said members after a sheet has been released and during their return into position to engage lthe rear edge ofthe next sheet to be fed.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the laterally-spaced camtracks 27, 27, have their left hand ends disposed slightly below and to the left of the axis of sprocket wheel shaft 5 and nearerto saidl axis than the links 'of chain 12 passing around the sprocket wheels 7, 7 From this point, said cam-tracks extend outwardly and upwardly around the axis of shaft 5,I and above the plane of the horizontal path of chains 12, 12, reaching their highest elevation "at a point adjacent to the rear edge of the pile of sheets as shown in Figure 1. From this summit said cam-tracks drop away on an incline to a plane below the horizontal path of said chains 12, 12, and terminate at their l forward'ends adjacent to the sprocket wheels 8, 8. It will be understood from this description that as the sheet-propelling mem- 'with respectto the upper horizontal path ofv chains 12, 12. It is just prior to assuming'this position that the flange 26 is moved into position to overhang the rear edge of the bottom j' `sheet which has become partially separated from the pile in the manner fully shown and described in my above identified Patent No.

ment of the lug or shoulder 24 toward the right thereupon completes the separation of the sheet and delivers the forward edge thereof to feed rollers A and B. Suitable means for flexing the members of the sheet-engaging devices to free the rear end of a sheet after the forward end thereof has been gripped by rolls A and B, may be provided as follows. A cam-track 28 has one end thereof disposed above the right hand end of one of the" parallel cam-tracks 27 and in suitable position to have its inner edgeengage the cam roller on that side as it leaves the cam-track 27. -Immediately after 4leaving the cam-track 27, said cam roller is depressed by a downwardly protruding portion 28'of cam-track 28 in such a way as to flex the sheet-propelling members for the purpose of releasing the rear edge of the sheet. Thereupon, said sheet continues its forward movement under the action of feed rolls A and B. As shown in Figure 1, the cam-track 28 -extends downwardly adjacently to but deviating gradually from the path of one of the chains 12 and thence in acircular arc around and outside of the periphery of oneof the sprocket wheels 11. A, rearwardly extending portion of trackbar 28 is inclined upwardly toward the sprocket wheel 7 around which it extends in an are and terminates adjacent to the summit of track-bars 27, 27. An arcuate strap 31 which, as shown in the left hand portion of Figure 1, extends upwardly and around the periphery of sprocket wheel 7', is adapted to slidably engage the gripper flange 26 and thereby l to gradually straighten out the flexed sheet-propelling members as they approach sheet-engaging position. y

Any suitable feed table-or platform may be provided between the side frames 4, 4, in approximately'the same horizontal plane as the bite of the delivery rollers A, B. As shown in the accompanying drawings this feed table is formed in spaced section 35, 35, 35, one or more of the intermediately arranged sections being slightly depressed to better accommodate the carriage upon which the feeding off devices are mounted. The spacing between the table sections 35, 35, 35, is toraccommodatc the forwardly-moving sheet-feeding devices described above.

Sheet feeding mechanism The side frame 4, 4 have-formed in their upper faces T-shaped slots 36 shown best in Figure 2, i-n which engage the shouldered nuts `on bolts 37 which pass through lateral guide flanges 38 of the side brackets 40 of an adjustable sheet feeding frame. The side brackets 40 may thus be secured in any desired adjusted position upon the machine side frames. These side brackets 40 are connected by a squared bar 4l extending from side to side of the machine and supporting above the table the rear guide frames and controlling devices bolts 43, an intermediate upright portion 44,'

and a forwardly-presented ,shelf 45 which projects below and in front of the squared bar 41. The laterally-spaced ends of shelves brackets 40 are provided with bearings 46 within which is oscillatably mounted a powerdriven rock-shaft 47. Mounted on rock-shaft 47 are the split hubs 48, 48, of laterally-spaced lever-arms 49, said split hubs being provided with cap screws 50,50, for releasably clamping the lever arms 49 in any adj usted'position onfsaid rock-shaft. Each of said lever arms 49 is pivotally connected by means of arpintle 51 to the bifurcated lug 52 of a plate or flange 53, a pusher plate 54 being secured along its `rear edge to each pair of flanges 53, 53. As` shown in Figures 3 and 4, the pusher plates 54, 54, 54, have their forward edges slidably engaging the upper surfaces of shelves 45, 45, 45, and are thus brought into engagement with the rear edges of successive bottom sheets of the pile P for successively separating said.bottom sheets from the pile. A leaf spring 54a which is secured at one end to each pusher plate 54, has its other end in slidable engagement with the .under surface of squared bar 4 1/foi'v retaining plate 54 in yieldable sliding engagement wlth the upper surface of shelf 45. Secured to the rear face of the squaredbar 41, are a series of plates or brackets 55, 55, 55, said brackets being respectively arranged between the vertical planes corresponding to the laterally-spaced ends of table sections 35, 35, 35. Each plate or bracket 55 is provided at its lower end with spaced bearing lugs 56, 56, for oscillatably supporting the trunnioned ends 57, 57, of a rectangular block 58. Secured to the under side-of each block 58 is a flat blade 59 which is fastened at its rear end to a lower toggle link 60; Saidlower toggle link 60 is connected by a pintle 61 to an `upper toggle link 62, the lastmentioned link being suspended by its upper end. from a pin 63 carried by a rearwardly-y presented bifurcated arm 64 which is provided with a split hub 65 and releasably clamped on the rock-shaft 47 by means of screw bolts 66. It will be-understood from the above description that as the flat blade 59 isoscill'ated on the'trunnions 57, 57 by radial arm 64, it will be moved to and fro between the positions shown respectively in Figures 3 and 4. According to Figure 3, a partial forward movement of the pusher plates 54, 54, 54, isfollowed by an upward movement of the lifting blades 59, 59, 59, the latter movement serving to elevate the rear end of the pile from the forwardly-displaced lbottom sheet. Said bottom sheet is thus left free along its rear edge for the unobstructed forward movement of the sheet-propelling device as indicated in Figure 3. Thereupon the bottom sheet is separated from the pile and vThese guides are vertically adjustable in the channelled rear faces of brackets which are transversely adjustable upon a frame bar 105. 101 are adjusting screws mounted in guide members 80 and engaging brackets 100 for adjusting the width of the delivery throat between the lower ends of guides 80 and the delivery end of the table or platform. In the drawings two sets of front guides 80 are shown arranged at equal distances from the central vertical longitudinal plane of the machine although it will be understood that any desired number of these guides may be employed.

The lower end of each of the front guides 8O carriesv two yieldably mounted sheet engaging and controlling devices which are supported directly above the delivery end of thev feed table or platform and form therewith the controlling delivery throat. These devices are'shown, described and claimed in U. S. Patent No. 1,643,646, granted in my name under date of September 27, 1927.

Mounted in front of the sheet-controlling delivery throat is an eccentrically supported semi-cylindrical calipering gate member 125 which is carried by a bearing shaft 126 journalled in brackets 127. Pins 128 mounted in shaft 126 are engaged by springs 129 connected with angular brackets 130 to yieldably retain the calipering member 125 in normal position. It will be understood that the calipering member 125 may be adjusted toward and away from the plane of feed with gide member 80 through the action of screw M eans for adjusting the assemblies As indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the transverse bar upon which the front guide assemblies are mounted, may be carried by laterally-spaced brackets 131 which are provided with base flanges 132 slidable on the top-rails 140 which extend longitudinall of the machine. Extending through the ase flanges 132 andT-slots 36, are bolts 133 which are provided with nuts 133*L for securing the side brackets 131 in `position. The oppositely-arranged side brackets 131 are provided with pedestals'134 to the top of which the transverse bar 105 is bolted. J ournalled in the pedestals 134 is a cross-shaft 135, said cross-shaft being provided with axiallyspaced gears 136 which mesh with laterallyspaced racks 137. Hand-wheels 138 are sccuredy to the opposite outer ends of the crossshaft 135, for effecting a ready adjustment front gurle of the 'front guide assemblies toward and away from the transverse supporting frame 'V which carries the sheet-feeding mechanism at the rear end of the feed-board. For this purpose, the bolts 133 are loosened to permit the flanges 132 to slide over the top rails M0,

said bolts being again tightened up after the for imparting relative forward movements thereto, a lever movable into and out of posiltion toelevate the rear end of the remainder of said pile, a rock-shaft, a toggle link connection between saidrock-shaft and said lever, and feed-olil mechanism adapted to engage therear end of the Iforwardly-displaced bottom sheet.

2. In a sheet feeding machine,'the combination with a shelf for supporting the rear end of a pile of sheets, a sheet pusher movable above said shelf at the rear of said pile for imparting relative forward movements to successive bottom sheets of said pile, means for elevating the rear end of the undisplaced remainder of said pile, said means including `a rock-shaft, a pivotally-mounted lever movable into and out-of engagement with the pile remainder, and toggle links connecting said rock-shaft to said lever, said lever being rigidly joined to one of said toggle links, and feed-offmechanism provided with means movable inte engagement with the rear end of the forwardly displaced bottom sheet.

3. In a sheet feeding machine, the combigA nation-of guides for a pile of sheets, a shelf supporting one edge of said pile, means for displacing successive. individual sheets forwardly on said shelf, a pivoted lever for momentarily elevating the reargend ofthe pile remainder, anda rear-edge sheet-engaglng device movabley into engagement with a forwardly-displaced sheet below the elevated end of said pile remainder and forwardly along the bottom of the pile for feeding the bottom sheet therefrom. p

. 4. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination with means for supporting apile of sheets including a shelf supporting theA rear of said pile for imparting relative forward' movements to successive bottom sheets of said pile, a pivotally mounted lever operated by said rock arm into and out of elevating engagement with the rear end of the remainder of said pile, and feed-off mechanism provided with means for engaging the rear end of the forwardly-displaced bottom sheet.

5. In a sheet feeding machine, the combi- 'nation ofa feed table, means for supporting a pile of sheets above said feed table, a rock'- shaft, a. rock-arm mounted on said rock-shaft,

asheet pusher pivotally connected to said rock-arm and movable thereby into displacing engagement with successive bottom sheets of the pile, a pivotally-mounted lever operatably .connected tozsai'd rock-shaft -and movable thereby finto elevating engagement with the rear end of the remainder of said pile, andfeed-off mechanism for removing the displaced bottom sheets.

-6. In a sheetcfeeding machine, the combination of a feed table, pile supports including front piling guides spaced from the feed table to provide a delivery throat, rear guides, and a shelf adjacent said rear guides spaced above the feed table and supporting the rear of the pile in a higher plane vthan the front of the pile, pushers operating above said shelf for relativev forward displacements to successive bottom sheets of the pile, a pivotally mounted lever for elevating the rear end of the pile remainder, and a feed-ol carrier operating above said feed table and below into the elevated rear end of the pile remainder for removing the successive bottom `sheets from said pile.

7 In a sheet feeding machine, the ycombination of means for supporting a pile of sheets, a sheet pusher for lmparting relative forward movements tov successive bottom sheets of said pile, a Alever mounted on a fixed axis for momentarily elevating the rear end of the remainder of said pile,'a toggle link connected at one end to said lever, a second toggle link connected at one end to the other end of the first-mentioned toggle link, means for oscillating the other end. of the secondjmentioned toggle link about a ixed center,

and a movable carrier movable into engagement with' the rear end of a forwardly-displaced bottom sheet during the momentary elevation of said rear ,end of the pile remainder for displacing the bottom sheet from thepifle.

8. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets, a sheet pusher for imparting relative forward movements to successive bottom sheets of said pile, a `lever for elevating the rear end of th'e remainder of said pile, a rock- .haft d'l td 'd kof the pile, a rock arm, a sheet pusher plvs a ra la arm mmm e on sal roc votally connected to said rock arm and its forwardend sliding upon said shelf at the rear' shaft and pivotally connected to said sheet pusher,y a second radial arm on said rockshaft, toggle links connecting said second radial arm to said elevating lever, and feedolf mechanism for delivering the bottom sheet from the, pile.

9. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination of a shelf fo'r supporting one edge of a pile of sheets, means for displacing successive bottom sheets forwardly from said shelf. and a rear-edge sheet-engaging device movable into engagement with the rear edge of said bottom sheet while the rear edge of said bottom sheet is being displaced from said shelf.

1Q'. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combinatlon of means for supporting a pile of sheets, a reciprocatory sheet pusher for imparting a short forward displacement to successive bottom sheets of the pile, and a continuously movable gripper movable into engagement with the rear edge of each forwardly displaced sheet during itsI forward displacement by said reciprocatory pusher for feeding said sheet from the pile.

11. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets with the rear edge of said pile higher than the front edge thereof, a reciprocatory pusher for imparting a short forward displacement to successive bottom sheets of the pile, rear-edge sheet-engaging means movable along and under the pile of sheets for removing successive bottom sheets, and means for elevating said rear-edge sheet-engaging means into engagement with the rear edge of the displaced bottom sheet during its move-y mentacross said shelf.

12. In a sheet-feeding machine, thecombination with a feed-table, of a rear-edge sheetpiling guide arranged at the rear edge of said feed-table, a shelf presented forwardly from' said rear-edge sheet-piling guide for supporting the rear edge of a pile of sheets, said shelf being raised above said feed-table, a slide reciprocable on said shelf for imparting forward movements to successive bottom sheets of the pile, a front-edge sheet-piling guide vated above said feed-table for supporting the rear edge of a pile of sheets, means for displacing successive bottom sheets forwardly upon said shelf, a rear-edge sheet engaging device for moving a sheet over said feedtable, and means for momentarily elevating said rear-edge sheet-engaging device above said shelf and into engagement with the rear edge of the bottom sheet as said sheet-engaging device passes said shelf.

14. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combinationof means forfsupporting the rear edge of a ile of sheetsat a higher elevation than the ffont edge thereof, a reciprocatory sheet pusher for imparting a short forward displacement to successive bottom sheets of the pile, and a continuously movable gripper operating below said pile of sheets and movable into engagement with the rear edge of each forwardly displaced sheet during its forward displacement by said reciprocatory pusher for` feeding said sheet from the pile.

y "15. In a sheet-feeding machine, the coml binatlon of'means for supporting a pile of sheets with the rear edge of said pile higher than Vthe front edge thereof, a rear-edge sheetpiling guide, a reciprocator pusher movable past said rear-edge sheet-pi ing guide for imparting a short forward displacementto successive bottom sheets of the pile,-a front-edge sheet-piling guide adjustable towards and away from said rear-edge sheet-piling guide, and means movable into engagement with each displaced bottom sheet during the time itis supported by saidsupporting means for lfeeding-off successive bottom sheets to which the .said short forward displacemt-mts,have been imparted. l

16. In a'sheet-feeding machine, the combination ofa shelf for su porting one edge of a pile of sheets, means fbr displacing successive bottom sheets forwardly from said ',shelf, means for elevating the rear edge of bination of a rear-edge guide for a pile of sheets, said rear-edge guide being provided with means for supporting the rear edge of a pile of sheets, a reciprocatory sheet pusher for imparting a short forward displacement to successive bottom sheets of the pile, a gripper movable into engagement with the rear edge of each forwardly displaced sheet during its forward displacement by said reciprocatory pusher for feeding said sheet from the pile, a ,front-edge guide for said pile of sheets, andmeans for adjusting said frontedge guide towards and away from said rearedge supporting means.

18. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination of means for supporting a pile of sheets with the rear edge of said pile higher than the front edge thereof, areciprocatory pusher for imparting a short forward displacement to successive bottom sheets of the pile, an endless conveyor movable beneath said pile from rear to front, a rear-edge sheet gripper mounted on said conveyor, means for operating said gripper to engage the rear edge of successive bottom sheets,'and means for driving said conveyor and reciprocating said pusher, the last-mentioned means being adapted to co-ordinate the movements of said gripper to transfer a sheet from said pusher to said ripper midway of the forward movement o said pusher.

19. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a feed-table, of a rear-edge pilesupport arranged above and adjacent to the `rear edge of said feed-table', a rear-edge pileguide extending upwardly and away from saidsrear-edge pile-support, means movablev into engagement with the rear edges ofsuc- 5 cessive bottom sheets of the pile for imparting shortl forward movements thereto, sheet feeding means including adevice for engagingthe' rear edge of each successive sheet, ,said rear-edge`sheet-engaging device being 10 movable' past said ,rear-edge pile support,

means vfor raising said rear-edge sheet-engaging device as' it passes said rear-edge pilesupport, a front-edge pile-guide having itsl lower edge spaced vfrom said feed-table to 15 form therewith a sheet-controlling delivery throat, a sheet-cali ering gate-member car# ried by said front-e ge pile-guide, and means for adjusting'said front-ed e pile-guide towards and away from said rear-edge pile de. f 2 gm GEORGE w. sWIFT, JR. 

